Ex-St Johnstone striker Stevie May delighted after returning from 12 months out at Preston North End

SCOTLAND striker Stevie May has made his competitive comeback after a year out with a serious knee injury.

The former St Johnstone favourite has been sidelined since last November when he damaged his cruciate knee ligament and surrounding ligaments and has faced a long slog back to recovery.

However, the 24-year-old played again for the first time for Preston North End in Wednesday night’s Lancashire Senior Cup clash with Bolton Wanderers and lasted 70 minutes of the penalty-kicks defeat.

(Pic: Instagram steviemay12)

May’s return came just five days before the anniversary of the injury he sustained in the 1-1 draw with Fulham on November 28 last year and he was denied a dream comeback when a second-half drive crashed back off the woodwork.

However, the marksman, who made his international debut in the 3-1 defeat to England in November 2014, admits he is just thrilled to be back on the pitch again.

He said: “It was good. It’s been a long time coming now but, in terms of the injury and what happened, I have made quite good time.

“We are pretty much bang on schedule, if not a little bit ahead, so it feels good to be back out there.

“The [club] have been there with players before who have been through similar injuries so I don’t want to rush anything, [I’ll] just take my time and make sure everything is right and go from there.

“It’s been a waiting game for me, there’s been a lot of hard work, but it all pays off and it’s worth it when you get out there.”

He added to www.pnefc.net: “When you’re in the changing room before the game you just get that feeling back that you’ve not had.

“You’re used to wearing your suit in the changing room and going round and shaking everyone’s hand, but you get to be a part of all of that again now, which is something that I have looked forward to for a long time.”